Copyright Chicago Tribune
Arcelia Gonzales said since the start the federal Operation Midway Blitz immigration enforcement, she’s traded morning nature walks for town patrols and vacations for grocery runs to residents too afraid to leave home. But now, she said, the loss of federal food benefits is hitting many of the same residents already avoiding public spaces out of fear of federal immigration enforcement. She said she and other advocates have teamed up with nonprofits, restaurants and grocery stores to expand food deliveries. Gonzales said as a longtime resident of Blue Island who now lives in Chicago Heights, a lot of south suburban communities are especially vulnerable to both fears of reported federal officers and the loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly known as SNAP or food stamps, as many communities already grapple with food deserts. Gonzales said some fearful residents have asked what their food options are, as they have never lost SNAP benefits. She said a lot of street vendors stopped selling products and a lot of people, even citizens, lost their jobs due to fears of ICE. She said families are still trying to have a normal life for their children or need funds for mental health and medical services. On top of that, she said, it’s all happening before the holidays. A few of these residents, Maria Echeverria and her neighbor Ofelia Arellano, showed up to The Hope Center in Blue Island on Tuesday, saying they had no food for their families after losing SNAP benefits. Echeverria said she now has to chose either to pay her bills or buy groceries. Both Echeverria and Arellano said despite their recent struggles, the hardships have brought them together. Gonzalez said business owners are also taking a hit from losing sales as people have fewer funds to spend. She said her own sales are down and several events were canceled in November because “no one is having parties right now. No one wants to celebrate.” “This is hitting every channel in every way,” Gonzalez said. “There are just so many deficits that are happening in our own community. It’s not just food. It’s people just trying to get money because they are so scared or don’t have the places they used to be able to sell or feel comfortable going out to or being comfortable to just go in front of their house.” Despite all the compounding anxieties in the community, Gonzalez said residents have responded by coming together in a massive community resource network that includes more than 10 businesses. The network will start bringing food, hygiene products and essential household items to Blue Island and Chicago Heights residents this Saturday. Residents can request items to be dropped off at their residence or sign up to volunteer either through an online form or texting two different numbers, both listed on community flyers. “I’m beyond grateful to see how the community gets together, especially in times of trouble, especially when we don’t even know if everyone will wake up with their food stamp card tomorrow,” Gonzales said. Gonzales said her 15 years of experience working on community fundraising through her business, Sister Sweets, which specializes in event planning, creative decorations and coaching for other small businesses, has all led to this effort coordinating food resources. Gonzales said even one of her teachers from Eisenhower High School made a donation Tuesday. “Creating those relationships are really important because now I have built trust with these individuals and these business owners to be able to bring these kinds of items to our community,” Gonzales said. “This is like the entire 360 connection of my personal journey in life.” She said she started reaching out to organizations she has worked with, which led her to partner with community advocates such as Karina Brucio, who brought more resources. She also said partnering with the Hope Center gave her and other advocates the support and infrastructure to get things going. The center focuses on training the community to grow its own food and has tools such as aquaponics, hydroponics and a kitchen where residents can pickle, freeze, dry and dehydrate food. She said businesses including San Marcos Mexican Restaurant, Clementine Cafe and Supermercado El Edén committed to weekly donations and held meetings with new businesses. Mauro Gomez and Juana Santos, owners of Mariscos El Camaron Coketo, a seafood restaurant, donated more than 2,000 eggs to the Hope Center Tuesday. Gomez said he chose to donate eggs because he thought they could especially help families. Even if people miss a chance to donate to the effort, Gonzales encouraged residents to bring business to the organizations supporting the initiative, because that in turn helps them support these efforts, she said. “To make it full circle, like, we all need to just be supporting each other at these critical times when our communities need it the most,” Gonzalez said. Some nonprofits such as the Greater Chicago Food Depository provide lists of food resources across the region. Others are one-off initiatives. More details on local efforts and the stories behind them are detailed below. Rich Township Rich Township Supervisor Calvin Jordan and Cook County Commissioner Kisha McCaskill teamed up to increase support for the Rich Township Food Pantry. The pantry already distributes food from 1-3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays to hundreds of residents in the township parking lot, according to spokesperson Sean Howard. But Jordan said the attendance numbers doubled last week, increasing from about 125 to 380 people. He said he expects mass lines now that SNAP benefits have been cut, as the pantry was already experiencing an increased number of residents seeking food and other resources. “We prepared for it, and we knew that we were going to get an overflow, but what I didn’t want to do is turn anybody around,” Jordan said Tuesday. “Right now, people need help, and it’s tough.” He also said residents told him it’s an especially tough to lose benefits right before Thanksgiving. Pantry coordinator Riette Woods said she also started receiving more donations in the past week due to the threat of SNAP cuts. She said schools, nonprofits, individuals and the police have become involved and made donations. Woods also said the pantry is starting a initiative on Nov. 21 where residents can get out of their cars at the pantry during scheduled times and pick out the items they would like, similar to a grocery store. She said she hopes the pantry can expand the days that it’s open to residents soon. Restaurants free meals Area restaurants have also come up with creative ways to support residents who have lost their SNAP benefits. Wooden Paddle, a pizzeria in Lemont and La Grange, started offering free lunch for customers who have lost SNAP benefits Nov. 1, which will continue through the end of the month. Management requested customers to bring their SNAP card to show staff. Jonathan Cowan, co-founder of Wooden Paddle, said Tuesday that more than 50 customers have accepted the free meals, which he said are supported by generous donations from the community. He said some customers told him they feel embarrassed to take the free meals, but also tell him how much it means to them. He said one longtime Lemont resident told him she always loved his restaurant but this kind of support was “next level.” Cowan said hearing these stories feels “purposeful.” “We feel lucky that we’ve been able to sustain such a long-term business, and when we’re able to step up and do something like this, it’s more than just a business,” Cowan said. “It’s really being deeply involved in your community.” Park Forest/Crete pop-ups Two organizations, Illinois partners in Hope and the Southland Voice, teamed up to host a food pop-up at First Baptist Church in Park Forest. Cars wrapped around the church parking lot starting at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, and volunteers handed produce and other grocery items to residents through car windows. Organizers asked residents to bring a $5 donation per vehicle and plan to host the pop-up again on Nov. 18 at the First Baptist Church. The same organizations will host food pantry pop-ups at 7:30 a.m. every Wednesday at the Crete Township Fire Protection District building at 26730 Stoney Island Ave. Organizers asked residents to bring a $5 donation and to stay in their vehicles.
